Cash register and the like



June 4 K. M. VIGBORG- ETAL 2,284,886

CASH REGISTER AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 15, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Karl Ma++5 Vt Borg YYHH FolKe Br \NYENTO ras a 'WAML June 2, 1942. K. M. VIGBORG ETAL 38 CASH REGISTER AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 15, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 K0\ H (1H1 W3 bor June 2, 1942. K. M. VIGBORG ET AL 2,284,886

CASH REGISTER AND THE LIKE Filed on. 15, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Karl MuHsVfaBor KVW] rolke/ Bra+ 9y W A Q June 2, 1942.

K. M. VIGBORG ETAL CASH REGISTER AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 15, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 NYENTOQ/S June 2, 1942.

K. M. VIGBORG ET AL 2,284,886 CASH REGISTER AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 15, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 mi i QT gv E T 0 i v W Q M T M Am WK Patented June 2, 1942 CASH REGISTER AND THE LIKE Karl Matts Vigborg and Knut Folke Bratt, Stockholm, Sweden, assignors to Kooperativa Forbundet, Forening U. P. A., Stockholm, Sweden Application October 15, 1940, Serial No. 361,232 In Sweden May 4, 1939 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to cash registers, bookkeeping machines, calculating machines and the like of the kind having, in addition to amount or figure key banks, one or more special key banks containing, for instance, assistant keys or keys denoting the kind of transaction, and differential setting members (for instance racks or tooth segments), the movements of which during the workin stroke of the machine are de-' termined by the keys. One object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type in which an amount entered on the amount keys cannot be transferred to the totalizer nor be printed on the control strip, unless at least one special key has first been depressed. A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby no key can be depressed and no special key can be released after the machine has started a working stroke.

According to the present invention, these objects are accomplished by the provision of a member which is movable about perpendicularly to the direction of motion of the differential setting members and controlled by the special keys, said member, when no special key has been depressed, assuming a position in which it cooperates with the differential setting members of the amount and figure keys in such a manner that the same are locked in their initial or zero positions.

One embodiment of the invention is illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial front elevation of a cash register according to the invention, the front wall, keys and key guiding and locking elements being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a substantially transverse sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are top plan views of the device shown in Fig. 1, various elements assuming different working positions, respectively.

Figs. 6 and 7 show some details of the device assuming various positions.

Fig. 8 a key shaft, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of two cooperating elements shown spaced apart for the sake of greater clarity.

Referring to the drawings numeral I designates the differential setting racks of the amount keys and 2 a differential setting rack of a special key bank. All differential setting racks are influenced in a known manner by springs (not shown). Each rack strives, when a key has been depressed, i. e. when the rack locking member 3 has been brought into release position and the machine starts its Working stroke, to move upwards and to be arrested in a position corresponding to the depressed key by cooperation between the key shaft and one of the stops 5 on the rack. The keys are retained in depressed position in a known manner against the action of restoring springs by means of detents l slidably mounted on the key guide members 6 and actuated by springs (not shown). Each detent l is provided with recesses 8, with which pins 10 on the key shafts 3 cooperate, only the lowermost recess 8 being visible in Figs. 6 and 7. Upon depression of a key, a cam projection l I pressed out from the key shaft 3 (see Fig. 8) actuates the rockable bail i2, which has L-shaped cross section and from which the rack locking member 3 is formed, said locking member being thereby rocked, against the action of a spring (not shown), from its locking position (Fig, 4) to its release position (Fig. 3).

On a shaft l8 rotatably mounted in the side walls ll of the frame of the machine, there are fixed two plates l3 having two rods l4, 15 interposed between them. When the machine has started its working stroke, the rod I4 enters recesses It in the detents l and, thus, prevents a depression of keys which have not previously been depressed (Fig. 6). The rod I5 serves to move the detents l upwards at the end of the working stroke, all depressed keys being thereby enabled to reassume their initial positions (Fig. 7). Prior to the starting of a working stroke, it is possible, by means of a correction key l9 (Fig. 8), to rotate the shaft 18 in such a manner that the rod l5 raises the detents 'l to release any depressed keys.

A reciprocable bail 20 is slidably mounted on a stationary plate 2| (see Fig. 2) for movements at substantially right angles to the direction of motion of the differential setting members and parallel to the front face of the machine. The bail 20 is provided with two L-shaped and five T-shaped projections 22 and has also formed therefrom two stops 23 and a cam surface 24 (see Fig. 9). The latter is adapted to cooperate with a second cam surface 25 formed from a plate 26 rockably mounted on the shaft 18. The plate 26 has also an angle portion 21, which, under the action of a spring 28, abuts against a roller 30 on a rockable lever 29. During the working stroke of the machine, the lever 29, which is mounted on a shaft 3|, is rocked to and fro due to its cooperation with a rotatable cam 32. On

the shaft [8 is rockably mounted a second plate 33 having a cam surface 34 adapted to cooperate with the cam surface 24 in a manner described hereinafter. An arm 35 is fixed to the shaft [8, and, as the latter tends to turn under the action of a spring 36 united with one of the plates I3 (see Fig. 2), the arm 35 strives to abut against the roller 39. The plate 33 is articulated by a pin 31 to a bail 33, which moves upwardswhen the machine is zeroized.

Th device operates as follows:

Before the machine is started the cam 32 assumes such angle position that a roller 39 provided on the lever 29 and cooperating with said cam engages the cam surface 40. The roller 30 on the lever 29, against the action of the springs 28 and 36, keeps the plate 23 and the arm 35 in such positions that the cam surface 25, against the action of a spring 4!, holds the bail 20 in the position shown in Fig. 4, while the rod I4 assumes the position indicated by dot-dashed lines in Fig. 6. The keys may now be depressed, and since there is a certain play between the rack locking member 3 and the stop 23 on the bail 2t,

as is clear from the position of said locking member indicated by dot-dashed lines in Fig. 4, it is possible to release, by the depression of the correction key it, any previously depressed special key, the member 3 being not subjected to any side pressure. After the proper keys have been depressed the working stroke of the machine starts.

The cam 32'now rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2 which figure shows the parts in the positions which they assume immediately after the start of the working stroke. The roller 39 next cooperates with the cam surface 42, as is clear from Fig. 2. Owing to the rocking motion performed by the lever 29, the shaft i3 is then rotated by the spring 36 in such a manner that the rod I4 enters into the recesses 83 of the detents l. The cam surface 25 of the plate 26 simultaneously moves out of contact with the cam surface 24, as is clear from Fig. 3. If a special key has been previously depressed, the rack locking member 3 of the corresponding key bank will prevent the bail 2t from being moved by the spring 4! into its right end position and the bail 20 will be arrested in the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the projections 22 of the bail 28 do not cooperate with the differential setting racks, the latter being thus free to move into the positions determined by the depressed keys. Immediately before the differential setting racks have returned to their initial positions, the roller 39 will cooperate with the high point it on the cam 32. Owing to the ensuing rotation of the shaft i8, the plates It will assume the positions shown in Fig. '7, the rod 55 thereby displacing the detents i and releasing depressed keys as described before. When the cam has returned into its original angle position, the working stroke is completed.

If in the above example only amount keys'but no special key had been depressed, the bail 25, through the action of the spring 4! would have assumed the position indicated by dot-dashed lines in Fig. 1. In this position, the projections 22 enter the guide slots 44 in the differential set ting racks. Thus, in spite of depressed amount keys, the differential setting racks l of the amount keys are retained in their zero or initial positions. After the beginning'of the working stroke of the machine any depression of amount or keys is impossible.

In order to prevent an improper usage of cash registers of this kind by the person entrusted With the zeroizing, an automatic locking of the aasgese differential setting racks of the special keys and of the amount keys is effected during the zeroizing operation. This is accomplished in the device according to the invention by the cam surface 34 of the plate 33. Upon the upward movement of the bail 38, which takes place during each zeroizing operation, the cam surface 34 moves the bail 25] into the position shown in Fig. 5. In this position, the projections 22 enter into the guide slots M in the differential setting racks of the special keys as well as of the amount keys. Consequently, during the zeroizing the various key groups may be depressed without any result.

As will be clear from the above the keys of the present device serve no other purpose than what has been usual hitherto. After depression of a key it is possible by depression of the correction key Iii to release previously depressed special and amount keys before starting the machine. It will also be clear that the device as a whole operates positively.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a calculating machine having amount key banks and a special key bank, and, for each amount key bank, a differential setting rack, the combination of a reciprocable member extending past all said setting racks, a spring urging said member towards an end position, a series of locking means on said member arranged to engage said setting racks and to lock the same in their zero positions when said member assumes said end position, cam controlled means to dis place said member at the end of each working stroke against the action of said spring'to a position in which said locking means are out of engagement with said setting racks and to prevent said member from moving towards said end position until it is released after the beginning of the next succeeding working stroke, a movable stop adapted to be displaced from an inoperative position to an operative position in which it is disposed in the path of a portion of said reciprocable member so as to arrest the latter, after its release from said cam controlled means, in a position in which said locking means are still disengaged from said setting racks, and means to displace said movable stop from said inoperative position to said operative position upon depression of any key in said special key bank.

2. A calculating machine, as claimed in claim 1, in which said reciprocable member is formed as an elongated bail slidable in a direction at substantially right angles to the direction of motion of the setting racks and parallel to the front face of the machine.

3. In a calculating machine, having amount key banks and a special key bank, and, for each key bank, a differential setting rack and a locking element for the latter, said locking element being adapted to be displaced, upon depression of any key in the correspondingkey bank, from its normal locking position to a release position,

I the combination of a reciprocable member exvent said member from moving towards said end position until it is released after the beginning of the next succeeding working stroke, and an abutment on said reciprocable member to cooperate with the locking element corresponding to said special key bank, when said locking element is in its release position so as to arrest said reciprocable member after its release from said cam controlled means, in a position in which said locking means are still disengaged from said setting racks and to prevent said member from assuming said end position if any key in said special key bank has been previously depressed.

4. In a calculating machine, having amount key banks and a special key bank, releasable means for locking depressed keys, and, for each amount key bank, a differential setting rack, the combination of a reciprocable member extending past all said setting racks, a spring urging said member towards an end position, a series of locking means on said member arranged to engage said setting racks and to lock the same in their zero positions when said member assumes said end position, cam controlled means to displace said member at the end of each working stroke against the action of said spring to a predetermined position in which said locking means are out of engagement with said setting racks and to prevent said member from moving towards said end position until it is released after the beginning of the next succeeding Working stroke, a movable stop adapted to be displaced from an inoperative position to an operative position in which it is disposed in the path of a portion of said reciprocable member so as to arrest the latter, after its release from said cam controlled means, in a third position intermediate said predetermined position and said end position in which third position said locking means are still disengaged from said setting racks, an elongated bail extending past the shafts of all the keys in said special key bank and being united with said movable stop, and cooperating cam and follower portions on each key shaft of a special key and on said bail respectively, said cam and follower portions being shaped to cause, upon depression of any special key, a displacement of said movable stop from its inoperative to its operative position, and then, after the release of said reciprocable member from said cam controlled means, to transfer the pressure of said spring through said reciprocable member, movable stop and bail to the key shaft of the depressed special key in a direction at substantially right angles to the direction of movement of said key shaft, thereby locking each depressed special key in addition to and independently from said releasable key locking means.

5. In a calculating machine having amount key banks, a differential setting rack for each amount key bank, respectively, a special key bank, and a zeroizing mechanism including a member which carries out a reciprocating movement during each zeroizing operation, the combination of a reciprocable member extending past all said setting racks, a spring urging said member towards a first end position, means controlled'by said reciprocating member of the zeroizing mechanism to displace said member, during each zeroizing operation, against the action of said spring to a second end position, a first series of locking means on said member arranged to engage said setting racks and to lock the same in their zero positions when said member assumes said first end position, a second series of locking means on said member arranged to engage said setting racks and to lock the same in their zero positions when said member assumes said second end position, cam controlled means to displace said member at the end of each working stroke against the action of said spring to an intermediate position in which all said looking means are out of engagement with said setting racks and to prevent said member from moving towards said first end position until it is released after the beginning of the next succeeding Working stroke, a movable stop adapted to be displaced from an inoperative position to an operative position in which it is disposed in the path of a portion of said reciprocable member so as to arrest the latter, after its release from said cam controlled means, in a position in which all said locking means are still disengaged from said setting racks, and means to displace said movable stop from said inoperative position to said operative position upon depression of any key in said special key bank.

6. In a calculating machine having amount key banks, a differential setting rack for each amount key bank, respectively, a special key bank, and a zeroizing mechanism including a member which carries out a reciprocating movement during each zeroizing operation, the combination of an elongated reciprocable bail extending past all said setting racks and being slidable in a direction at substantially right angles to the direction of motion of the setting racks and parallel to the front face of the machine, a spring urging said bail towards a first end position, means controlled by said reciprocating member of the zeroizing mechanism to displace said bail, during each zeroizing opera tion, against the action of said spring to a second end position, said bail having a number of spaced T-shap'ed projections corresponding to the number of setting racks and, at its opposite ends, two L-shaped projections having their legs projecting towards each other, one leg of each T- shaped projection and the leg of one of said L-shaped projections being adapted to enter slots provided in the setting racks so as to arrest the latter in their zero positions when said bail assumes said first end position, the other leg of each T-shaped projection and the leg of the second L-shaped projection being adapted to enter said slots in said setting racks when said bail assumes said second end position, cam controlled means to shift said bail at the end of each working stroke against the action of said spring to an intermediate position in which all said T-shaped and L-shaped project-ions are out of engagement with said setting racks and to prevent said bail from moving towards said first end position until it is released after the beginning of the next succeeding working stroke, a movable stop adapted to be displaced from an inoperative to an operative position in which it is disposed in the path of a portion of said reciprocable member so as to arrest the latter, after its release from said cam. controlled means, in a position in which all said projections are still disengaged from said setting racks, and means to displace said movable stop from said inoperative position to said operative position upon depression of any key in said special key bank.

KARL MATTS VIGBORG. KNU'I FOLKE BRAT'I. 

